Art auction in aid of airshow disaster fund

Rosemary Jones with her painting 'South Downs', Bob Smytherman, Joanna Richards and Adam Hurley with his painting 'Sunset Groyne, Worthing' Picture: Alan Cross

ARTISTS have been invited to donate their artwork to an art auction which aims to raise money for the Shoreham Airshow crash fund.

Whether it is paintings, print, sculptures or jewellery, artists have been encouraged to the auction their work between 12pm and 3pm on November 7 at Worthing Museum and Art Gallery.

Bob Smytherman, Worthing’s town crier, will play auctioneer in the museum’s main gallery.

Joanna Richards 37, of Providence Terrace, Worthing, set up the auction.

She said: “It’s important as this is a way for the local creative community to help inject some positivity into the tragedy that has affected us all in some way.

“Personally I am close to three people who have lost loved ones and felt compelled to do something to help raise money.”

Joanna has raised awareness and publicity through social media while also displaying posters in local libraries and museums.

She said: “From the outset the support has been amazing, we have twelve pieces booked so far which you can see on the event page on Facebook – ‘Live Fundraising Art Auction featuring Worthing Town Crier’.”

Eleven men died in the Shoreham Airshow tragedy on August 22 when a Hawker Hunter jet crashed onto the A27.

Money raised at the auction will go to the Shoreham Airshow Fund, through the Sussex Community Foundation.

The foundation collects and manages the funds raised and distributes it to affected families when they need it.

Chief executive of the Sussex Community Foundation Kevin Richmond said: “We set up the Shoreham Airshow fund on the Monday after the crash, as people were ringing their County Councils wanting to donate but didn’t have a way to give money.”

“The support has been quite amazing, we didn’t really publicise it so it has been a spontaneous response of people wanting to give and donate to help those affected.”